Tree arrowroot stick with people for a long Bac but only became key crops for poverty reduction from 2011.

Last September, arrowroot powder prices in Bac Kan has increased by about 6,000 VND / kg, the price of fresh arrowroot in the garden is also inching up each day, the traders purchased for $ 1,600 / kg, many farmers feel sorry for not planting this year ...

Tree arrowroot stick with people for a long Bac. But, just became key crops for poverty reduction from 2011, when the local government roadmap for farmers to expand area. From the first few years the results have policies to encourage farmers in Bac Kan found high rates, extended area of ​​about 500 hectares to 3,000 hectares in 2013.

When arrowroot area in Bac Kan quickly expanded, and then throughout the district are plants, processing facilities arrowroot tubers, leading to higher prices while, at low, sometimes no one is really buying. To protect the interests of farmers, Bac Kan government has issued a policy "forced" to have a commitment to each processing facility with arrowroot growers.

Under commitment, arrowroot tubers purchase price in 2013 for not less than 1,300 farmers / kg. However, when the case, many processing units vin enough reason not to buy, sometimes leading to reduced prices by VND300 / kg still no buyers.

So determined is arrowroot plant eradication of poverty, the household registration should grow according to the guidelines of Bac Kan province will be financially supported for the same, poor households will be granted free varieties. And the money to buy fertilizer, land preparation and care, spray pesticides ... are the big items, arrowroot growers have to borrow to invest. Therefore, the depreciation of arrowroot tubers, many households in Bach Thong district, Ba, Na Ri has abandoned dozens of acres harvested arrowroot, because the seller does not pay enough money.

Mr. Ma Van Kiem, Khang Ninh Commune, Ba Be (Bac Kan) said his family of poor families should be exempted from buying seeds. But, last year when finishing 2 hectares planted arrowroot, he had 4 million bank loan to buy fertilizer and hire workers to work the land. When harvested, arrowroot humid, no buyers, so he must hold additional bank debt, do not know when the new payment.

"Just because the 2013 devaluation, arrowroot crop up to 2014, we have athletes how people do not respond, they switched to crops other food prices rose ...", he Sam Van Kinh, My Phuong commune chairman explained.

According to Ms. Dang Thi Anh Tho, Head of Agriculture and Rural Development Ba Be district: 2013, Ba Be 770 ha planted, yield of 65 tonnes / ha. Because last year's prices down too low when on the harvest, so farmers did not develop depression. This year both districts just planted 176 hectares, it is the price arrowroot, many households regret.

There is a reality in Bac Kan is, most of the poor and the near poor are want to escape from poverty by the arrowroot plant. But, by the local planning control, to relatives massive development area increases too fast in 2013, while the processing facilities locally not meet the consumption needs product, so the price is low, many farmers lost arrowroot.

"If prices keep stable arrowroot 1200-1500 / kg every year, there is growing interest arrowroot over 60 million VND / ha, it is true that trees reduce poverty," said Dang Van Son - deputy director DARD Bac Kan said.

According to the authorities, Bac Kan has over 150 processing facilities arrowroot, qualified for the 1,700 hectare consumption at the main arrowroot. However, in 2014 both in Bac Kan province is about 800 hectares planted, by half compared to 2013 prices then and arrowroot arrowroot tubers increase is understandable.
 

Au  Vuong